Doctor insights on:
Do Benign Tumors Cause Pain

1

Postop shoulder:
Depends on how far out from surgery you are and your symptoms. Possibilities include hematoma formation, normal postoperative soft tissue swelling, hardware or repair failure, infection, etc. The most important thing you can do is follow up with your routine postoperative checks that your shoulder surgeon has arranged.
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A tumor by any other name is a growth. It can be either benign or malignant, differentiated based upon the potential to spread (a malignant tumor is, by definition, a cancer). The best way to determine this is by a tissue biopsy, but we can make better predictions based on the organ of origin, physical exam, and x-ray findings.
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2

It happens:
They just happen in many cases. Some run in families (genetic). Symptoms can be from growth of the tumor or irritation of nerves and other structures nearby. Sometimes they are found when the bone breaks for bone weakness from the tumor. In other cases they are found when a person is evaluated for another problem.
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From:
From the sounds of your description, the tumor that was removed had some involvement of the spinal cord or the nerves of the cauda equina descending from the cord. Your description of pain is consistent with a continued neurologic cause of the ongoing pain. This could be from post operative scar tissue about the nerves of the cauda equina or just residuals from damage caused by the original tumor.The recommendations of your physical therapist appear correct, however, there can often be additional measures taken to improve your tolerance of the therapy activities.My recommendation would be to engage the care of a physician specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation to best guide your recovery. Considerations would be for medications to calm the nerves or consider medications for muscle spasticity if indicated.
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4

Find out more:
You need to find out more about the benign tumor that you have mentioned on the rib cage. Your doctor should be bale to guide you further, both in terms of pain control and resolve or remove the so called benign tumor if this lesion is felt to be the cause of your pains.
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5

Narrowing of the:
Field of exposure with radiation treatment is done to minimize the risk of side effects of treatment. Yes there is increased risk of thyroid tumors, other brain tumors and brain infarcts (stroke). You should review your situation with the doctors (radiation oncologist especially) Each situation requires weighing the potential risks vs benefits.
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9

Yes:
All tumors arise from normal pre existing cells that have undergone some form of transformation. Several oncogenes are turned on to present the benign as well as malignant lesion with immortality. In the case of the malignant tumor additional changes allow for matrix metalloproteinase to be produced to dissolve walls of blood vessels for metastasis and convert e-cadherin to small e cad.
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10

Occassionally:
When a benign tumor is completely resected with margins it won't recurr. While such growths won't metastasize to distant sites, if incompletely removed they can recur within a few weeks of removal but not to the original size. Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans and desmoid tumors of the abdominal wall are frequently seen to recur if margins of resection are involved.
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11

Mesodermal in origin:
The most common tumor that is benign and virtually remains benign is the lipoma. These increase in number with age. Fibromas are similarly benign and remain as such though in going up the fibrous ladder, the fibromatosis are always benign such as plantar fibromatosis and dermatofibromas. Neuromas of peripheral nerves are also common and remain benign.
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12

Depends on location:
Although a benign tumor will not metastasize (i.e. will not spread to other parts of the body) it can grow and encroach on other body parts adjacent to it. Benign tumors can be serious if they press on vital structures such as blood vessels or nerves. That would be the only significant danger.
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14

"Growth":
A tumor by any other name is a growth. It can be either benign or malignant, differentiated based upon the potential to spread (a malignant tumor is, by definition, a cancer). The best way to determine this is by a tissue biopsy, but we can make better predictions based on the organ of origin, physical exam, and x-ray findings.
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15

Usually lipomas:
Lipomas usually single at the beginning but eventually become multifocal in subcutaneous areas of the body. There is a growth factor that is released (FGF- 1) that stimulates appearance of growths. In vonRecklinghausens disease multiple neurofibromas develop over the skin from head to foot. In both situations, lipoma and neurofibroma if progression noted we see liposarcomas and neuroSa.
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16

They can:
One example of a benign tumor that can grow and cause trouble is a meningioma. It can grow and compress the brain, sometimes leading to death. However, many benign tumors can be successfully removed surgically.
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17

Terminology issues:
The term malignant is used to describe a tumor known to spread to ; damage tissues ; organs to the point death is possible. Benign tumors are less worrisome. They tend not to spread, but someone may have many individual ones. Their location ; growth may produce problems for the patient. Transformation to a malignancy in unheard of for some benign lesions and rare for others.
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19

It depends on what I:
Benign tumors typically do not grow. But it depends on where it is located and what does your doctor think it is? A careful physical examination by your doctor is necessary to be sure that it is indeed benign as it is often difficult to tell the difference beween benign and malignant (this one grows in size as you watch it). I would be cautious and seek a second opinion and request an imaging test.
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20

Possibly.:
Benign tumors do not spread to distant sites. However they can grow and cause local issues. If the growth begins to cause pain it may be causing local damage due to its size. Recommend that you see your primary md for further evaluation. Even benign tumors sometimes need to be removed.
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21

Not usually.:
By definition a benign tumor is not aggressive, slow growing, will not spread to other sites, but could cause harm to surrounding tissues. So a benign brain tumor or heart tumor could eventually become life threatening if it was ignored, but that would be a very unusual turn of events.
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22

Yes:
Benign tumors, especially in the brain, can kill you as they can grow and damage adjacent brain or cause increased pressure on the brain. Benign lung or GI tumors can cause obstructive pneumonia or bowel obstruction with dire consequences. Benign tumors in virtually any organ can cause irreparable damage if growth is unchecked or the tumors are not removed. Expert consultation is important.
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25

Chondroma:
For themost part chondromas are benign. However the position of the lesion which usually results from excess stimulation of growth hormone is important. The more peripheral the lesion is in terms of centricity, the chance is that the tumor will not have an aggressive behavior. If the lesion occurs around the pelvic girdle rather than distal extremity, it can behave aggressively.
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27

Possible, not likely:
Benign tumors can turn malignant but malignant tumors would rarely, if ever, (i never say never!) become benign except as a result of total tumor destruction by chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Although all tumor is killed, there can be a residual smaller mass because of scar and other tissue. Such a "benign" tumor could sit stable for years and then regrow from residual "dormant" tumor cells.
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28

Terminology issues:
The term malignant is used to describe a tumor known to spread to & damage tissues & organs to the point death is possible. Benign tumors are less worrisome. They tend not to spread, but someone may have many individual ones. Their location & growth may produce problems for the patient. Transformation to a malignancy in unheard of for some benign lesions and rare for others.
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30

No:
Chemotherapy is not recommended for benign lesions. The major reason is that the chemo is direacted to various regions of the cancer cell to interfer in metabolic pathways by altering gere and nuclear DNA function. Even when optimally functioning because of toxicity and additional side effects use should be limited. Malignant stem cells resistent to chemo regrow to reappear in original field.
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